Compressor



July 17, 1934. s. VORECH El AL 1 1,967,001

COMPRESSOR Filed Sept. 11. 1931 4 Sheets-Shet 1 mmvrozz. 5TEPHE/VVans-cw By jTEPHE/V JO/i/VJOMJI:

Fla. 2

A TTORNE Y.

July 17, 1934. a V RECH AL I 1,967,001

COMPRESSOR Filed Sept. 11, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 57PHW Wise/iBY firm/1'5 Jam/so,

FIG. 3

A TTORNE Y.

July 17, 1934.. s. VORECH EIAL COMPRESSOR Filed Sept. 11, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 3 5 YEP/11w Jab/V5344 MZAZZOIQNE Y.

- l luu @atentecl July 1?, i9

earner (DQDMPEESSQE Stephen Vorech and Stephen Johnson, lira,lPittsburgh, iia assignom to Bendix-Westinghouse Automotive Air BrakeCompany, fittsburgh, Pa, a corporation-oi liiieiaware ApplicationSeptember ill, 1193i, Serial No. StZJitlt 19 (Claims.

This invention relates to compressors, and more particularly tocompressors employed as part of the air brake and air starter equipmentof automotive vehicles.

u lthas been proposed to mount the compressor at the side of the engineof the vehicle, andiurther to lubricate the moving parts thereof fromthe force teed lubrication system or the engine. it is the principalobject or the invention to im- 1 prove such structural features, and tothis end there is suggested a very rigid mounting for the compressor,the compressor crank case and engine crank case being so constructed andarranged as to efiectively cooperate in providing the desired mountingas'weli as providing a means for conducting the oil from the engine tothe compressor.

In the arrangements disclosed, the oil, after lubricating the compressorparts, is permitted to 28 drain back to the engine case by gravitythrough relatively large intercommunicating openings in the respectivecases.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sealing the oilfrom the end bearings of the compressor, particularly of the ball type,in a structure for lubricating the connecting rod bearings and whereinthe oil is transmitted through ducts in the crank shaft.

Other objects of the invention and desirable details of constructionwill become apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 1--1 of Figure 2,through an automotive air compressor embodying certain features of ourinvention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the compressor of Figure 1, the mountingbeing shown in section;

Figure 3 discloses in detail the oil seal construction for thecompressor of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a difierent type ofmounting construction, the

section being taken on line 44 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 disclosing the mounting of Figure4 in greater detail;

Figure 6 discloses a further modification oi compressor mounting;

Figure '7 discloses in combination with conventional compressorstructure one form of end bearing oil seal construction.

Figure 7A discloses a modified form of drive for the compressordisclosed in Figure '7;

Figure 8 discloses in detail a further modified form of mountingstructure; and

9 discloses another modification of oil seal for the end bearing,

In that embodiment at our invention disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 thereis shown a compressor structure of generally conventional type compris-@0 ing cylinders 10 and 12 housing reciprocable pistons 14 connected bythe'usual connecting rods 16 to a compressor crank shaft 18 by the usualbearings 20.

The invention is particularly concerned with to the means forlubricating the aforementioned connecting rod bearings, and to this endthe force feed lubricatingsystem of the engine may be employed to usefuladvantage, all in combination with a very rigid mounting for the com- 7opressor, the letter also being a feature of our invention. As disclosedin detail in Figures 1 and 2, interconnecting ducts 22, 24:, 2d and 28in the engine case so and lower half 32 of the compressor case provide aconduit for the oil, under a con stant head or pressure from the enginelubricating system, and which oil is communicated by duct :i'direct to achamber 36 adjoining an end bearing of the compressor crank shaft. Ducts38, i0 and 4.2 are provided, in the compressor case, to permit thecompressor to be reversed on its mounting and maintain theaforementioned oiling system. A duct 44 is also provided as a drain andis normally closed by plug 46. An axially directed opening at ofcomparatively small bore serves to transmit the oil from chamber 36 tothe interconnecting ducts 50, 52 and 5t in the crank shaft 18, whichducts extend to the connecting rod bearings 20 to lubricate the same.

Referring now to the mounting of the comto pressor aforementioned, thelower half 32 or the compressor crank case is iormed as a boss cast withthe engine case 30 and projects laterallythereirom as clearly disclosedin Figure 2. The upper half of the compressor case is bolted orotherwise securely fixed to the lower half by fastenings 56. Thecompressor is thus rigidly mounted in position. It will furthermore benoted that the hollow interior of the lower half of the compressor caseprovides a relatively large grav- 10:, ity return to the engine case forthe oil thrown from the connecting rod bearings.

In order to insure an oil-tight joint between the engine and compressorcrank case, a recess 11 is formed in the base of the compressor crankcase adapted to receive a. suitable gasket 13. The recess 11 is formedinteriorly of the peripheral edge of the compressor crank case so thatthe edges of the gasket are enclosed and metal to metal contact isprovided between the engine and compressor crank cases at the peripheryof the joint therebetween. The gasket 13 is provided with openings 15registering with the oil ducts 28, 42 and 44 to provide an oil-tightpassage when the parts are assembled. In mounting the compressor on theengine crank case a gasket 13 of any suitable material, such, forexample, as cork, is set in the recess 11 the thickness of the gasketbeing slightly greater than the depth of the recess. The fastening boltsare then inserted and drawn down tightly compressing the gasket untilthe metallic rim surrounding the recess is in direct contact with theengine crank case, the gasket then being tightly pressed between thecompressor and engine crank cases to form an oil-tight seal both aroundthe oil ducts and between the engine and compressor crank cases. Themetal to metal contact between the engine and compressor crank casesprotects the gasket, provides a more rigid joint between the compressorand the engine and enables the compressor to be located very accurately,thus insuring proper alignment between the compressor and its drivemeans.

The end bearings of the crank shaft are preferably of the ball type andwith the construction shown, that is with the oil fed direct through theshaft, some means must be provided for sealing oil the chamber 36 fromthe .end bearing as well as the driven end or stub shaft 58. To this'enda sealing member 60, which may be a washer of leather or equivalentmaterial, is firmly pressed at its outer periphery against the outerface of the ball race 62 by a spring 64.

35.periphery the washer or gasket is urged into contact with the race bythe four prongs of a spring washer member 66 securely attached to theinner face of bearing cap 68. A standard form of gland 70 may beprovided to obviate the loss of oil outwardly of the shaft. The springs64 and 68 also serve to maintain the ball bearing structure firmly inposition. A very compact oil seal structure is thus provided permittinga direct communication from the engine lubricating system to a chamberadjacent the end bearing and thence direct to the connecting rodbearings.

A recess '71 similar to recess 11 shown in Fig. 1 is provided in thecompressor crank case adapted to receive a gasket 73, the gasket havingopenings registeringwith the oil ducts. The recess 71 is formedinteriorly of the periphery of the compressor crank case so that theouter periphery of the gasket is entirely enclosed and metal to metalcontact is provided at the periphery of the joint between the engine andcompressor.-

crank cases. 1

As disclosed in Figures 4 and 5, the lower half 72 of the compressorcrank case may be constructed to be bolted direct to a boss 74 on theengine case by fastenings 76. In Figure 4 we have also disclosed aslightly different form of oil seal wherein the gasket 78 is secured tothe outer ball race by a cap member 80, the cap thus serving,

together with the spring 84, to hold the gasket in position.

In Figure 6 there is disclosed a further modification of compressormounting wherein an in clined boss 86 on the compressor case complementsa similar boss 88 on the engine case, the two being rigidly securedtogether by bolts or equivalent fastenings so. In both types ofmountings disclosed in Figures 5 and 6 the oil thrown from theconnecting rod bearings is returned to the engine case and. thence tothe engine sump At its inner by means of the intercommunicating openingsin the compressor and engine cases.

In Figure 7 there is disclosed another type of oil seal and end bearingstructure, juxtaposed and similar ball bearing units 92 being separatedby a collar 94 bored at 96 to conduct the lubricating oil from thechamber defined by the units to a groove 98 in a timing gear drivencrank shaft 99 and thence via ducts in the shaft to the connecting rodbearings. A light spring 100 serves, in conjunction with caps 102 andthe pressure of the oil, to retain the sealing gaskets 104 in position.If desired, a small hole 106 may be provided in the outer gasket 104 topass lubricant to the outer bearing unit. The inner bearing units in allof the modification disclosed are lubricated by the spray of oil thrownfrom the connecting rods.

If desired, the crank shaft of Figure 7 may be driven by 'a V-beltpulley 101 keyed to a stub shaft 103 journaled in bearing and connectedto the crank shaft at 107, all as disclosed in Figure IA.

In Figure 8 there is disclosed a further modiiied form of sealing andbearing structure wherein the thickness of the bearing cap 108 is suchas to completely cover the side face of the bearing unit 110, a smallannular pocket 112 in communication with the shaft duct 114 and supplyduct 116 serving to provide a reservoir for the oil. A gasket 118 isclamped between the cap and the bearing unit to obviate ingress of oilto the unit, and a gland structure 120 completes the sealing structure.

There is disclosed in Figure 9 a modified form of oil return structurewherein a baiile 122 functions, in conjunction with the oil 124,pocketed in the base of the compressor crank case at 125, to obviategaseous communication between the engine and compressor cases. The fumesfrom the engine case are thus prevented from entering the compressorcase. An opening 126 in the engine case serves to drain the surplus oilin the compressor case back to'the engine case and thus maintain aconstant level of oil in the pocket 125. A breather 127 is provided inthe compressor case to compensate for any back pressure which may bedeveloped in the case.

It is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention to theparticular structures described and disclosed, nor otherwise than by theterms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A compressor structure comprising, in combination with a crank caseof an internal combustion engine, an integral projection extendingoutwardly from said case forming the lower half of the crank case of acompressor, said projection being hollow to provide free communicationbetween said engine case and said compressor case, together with anupper compressor crank c'ase member detachably secured to said lowercrank case member, said crank case members being provided with aplurality of intercommunicating ducts connected to one end bearing ofthe compressor at one end of the series of ducts and to the pressurelubricating system of the engine at the other end of said series.

2. In a compressor structure, upper and lower crank case memberstogether constituting a crank case of 2. compressor, said upper memberbeing provided in its side walls with oppositely inclined oil ducts,other ducts extending substantially right angularly of said inclinedducts and a longitudinally extending duct interconnecting d fastmentioned ductsall of saidayiorementioned ducts intercommunicating to.provide a conduit for the transference of a lubricant andfu itherproviding a system of ducts symmetricallyg are ranged in the crank casemembein,

3. A compressor mounting. structrecomprising a hoilow angularlyextending lower part of a one piece compressor crank casememben a bossprojecting from one side of'the crank case of an internal combustionengine aboutanopena ing therein and means for detachably secu r.1ng saidcompressor crank case member to, sa1 d engine boss portion to completethe mounting-strum, ture, said parts being provided in-the thickness.

of their side walls with intercommun icating dubts providing a means fortransmitting lubricant to moving parts of the compressor..

d. A compressor mounting comprisingin 00mg bination with the crank caseof an internalcombustion engine, said case havingia hollow pro-f iectionintegral therewithand extending iaterailytherefrom, a bafiiemember-secured to said projection and extending inwardly into the hollowthereof, together with an. upper-casing memsaid engine case oppositesaid projection being provided with an opening adjacent said bafflemember.

6. in a compressor having a crank case and a crank shaft therein,lubricating means comprising a ball bearing unit interposed between saidcase and shaft at one end of the latter, an end bearing cap membersecured to said case, said cap member being recessed in one end thereofto provide, with said shaft and bearing, an oil reservoir, an oilsealing gasket positioned against one side face of said bearing unit anda plurality of spring members arranged and tensioned between said capand gasket, and urging the latter into engagement with said unit.

'3. In a compressor having a crank case and a crank shaft therein,lubricating means comprising a ball bearing unit interposed between saidcase and shaft at one end of the latter, an end bearing cap membersecured to said case, said cap member being recessed in one end thereofto provide, with said shaft and bearing, an oil reservoir, an oilsealing gasket positioned against one side face of said bearing unit,and a plurality of spring members arranged and tensioned between saidcap and gasket and urging the latter into engagement with said unit, oneof said spring members being provided with a plurality of prongscontacting with said gasket at its inner periphery.

8. In a compressor having a crank case and a crank shaft therein,lubricating means comprising a plurality of spaced ball bearing unitspositioned in a recess formed in the crank case at one end of the crankshaft, a spacer collar member interposed between said units, gasketmembers positioned in th space between said units and against the sidefaces of the same together with yieldable means for urging-saidgasketfirmly into contact with saidnnits,

biricating. means comprising a bearing unit supportingone end of saidcrank shaft, a chamber surrounding said crank shaft adjacent said bear-,flflilna compressor having a crank shaft, lu-

bricating' means comprising a bearing unit supportingonejend of saidcrank shaft, a chamber surrounding said crank shaft adjacent saidbearing' unit, a passage foriconducting lubricant into said chamber, alubricant sealing gasket positioned against said bearing unit to preventleakage of said lubricantfrom said chamber through said unit, resilientmeans in said chamber for holding said gasket against said bearing unit,lubricant sealing means between said chamber and crank shaft to preventleakage of lubricant from said chamber along the crank shaft, and apassage for conducting lubricant from said chamber into said crankshaft.

' il'j frr a compressor having a crank case and a crank shaft,lubricating means comprising a pair of spaced bearing units mounted in achamber in said crank case and supporting one end of said crank shaft, apassage for conducting lubricant into said chamber between said bearingunits, sealing gaskets positioned against said bearing units to preventflow of lubricant from said chamber through said bearing units, and asec- .9...In'a compressor having a crank shaft, lu-

0nd passage for conducting lubricant from said chamber into said crankshaft.

12. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase and a pressure lubricating system, a compressor comprising a crankcase adapted to be directly secured to the crank case of the engine, acrank shaft in said compressor crank case, and intercommunicating ductsin said compressor and engine crank cases, the duct in said engine crankcase communicating with the pressure lubricating system of the engine.

13. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase and apressure lubricating system, a compressor comprising a crankcase adapted to be directly secured to the crank case of the engine, acrank shaft in said compressor crank case, intercommunicating ducts insaid compressor and engine crank cases, the duct in said engine crankcase communicating with the pressure lubricating system of the engine,and the duct in said compressor crank case communicating with thecompressor crank shaft, and an intercommunicating passage between saidcompressor and engine crank cases for returning excess lubricant fromsaid compressor crank case to said engine crank case.

14. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, a compressor comprising a crank case adapted to be directlysecured to said engine crank case, registering openings in saidcompressor and engine crank cases, one of said crank cases beingrecessed around said openings, and a gasket mounted in said recess, theouter periphery of said gasket being wholly contained within saidrecess.

15. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, a compressor comprising a crank case adapted to be directlysecured to said engine crank case, registering openings in saidcompressor and engine crank cases', and a gasket surrounding saidopenings and disposed between said engine and compressor crank cases,the outer portion of said compressor crank case being in direct contactwith tion engine having a crank case, a compressor including a crankcase adapted to be directly secured to said engine crank case,intercommunieating ducts in said engine and compressor crank cases, anda gasket between said engine and compressor crank cases having anopening therethrough which communicates with said ducts, a portion ofsaid compressor crank case being in direct contact with said enginecrank case.

ana-001 I 18. In, a compressor having a crankcase and a crank shaft,lubricating means comprising 'a pair of spaced bearing units mounted ina chamher in said crank case and supporting one end of said crank shaft,a passage for conducting lubricant into said chamber between saidbearing units, means positioned between said units for preventing escapeof lubricant from said chamber throu h a d units, and a second passagefor conducting lubricant from said chamber into said crank shaft.

19. In a compressor having a crank case and a crank shaft, lubricatingmeans comprising a pair of spaced bearing units mounted in the chamberin said crank case and supporting one end of said crank shaft, anannular spacer member positioned between said bearing units and carriedby said crank shaft, a passage for conducting lubricant into saidchamber between said bearing units, means positioned between said unitsfor preventing escape of lubricant from said chamber through said units,a passage in the crank shaft, and means for conducting lubricant to saidcrank shaft passage including a plurality of ports.

through said spacer member.

STEPHEN JOHNSON, JR. STEPHEN VORECH.

